Effect of light environment experienced by the parent plant on the establishment of Brachiaria decumbens stem cuttings

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in a glass house at the University of New England. Armidale, N.S.W., Australia to investigate the effect on light environment of the parent plant onm the establishment performance of Brachiaria decumbens stapf. The light treatments were 100perc. day light in the glass house (full day light), 60perc. and 30perc. of full day light. Overall results demonstrated that the stem cuttings taken from full day light treatment produced higher number of tillers, arger leaf area and higher dry weights of tops and roots than the rest of the treatment. Stem cuttings obtained from 60perc. light treatment appeared to be superior to 30 perc. light treatment. The results suggeste that parent plants of Brachiaria species raised on young coconut plantations on senile plantations would bemore suitable as a source of planting aterial than those grown on mature plantations for commercial cultivation of grasses.